Double curved tile with larger capacity of pluvial and eolian seal

ABSTRACT

A double curved tile with a larger capacity of pluvial and eolian seal comprising a body having a central curved portion provided with first and second lateral parts each of a different shape, the first and second parts form a semi-curved upper surface one provided with an overlaying ledge and the other an underlying ledge to fit under the overlying ledge the, first and second lateral parts forming a continuous curved portion, and the first and second lateral parts being juxtaposed to each other to form an enclosed space for the flow of water and to prevent seepage or leakage of water from the space. A drain system using the double curved tiles, and the ledges forming mating sections with one mating section forming a roof configuration to overlie a channel or U-shaped section formed by the second mating section, and the top of one mating section when juxtaposed to the other mating section overlying the U-shaped channel to form a closure and pathway for water to flow between the two mating sections and away from a structure the roof is to cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is concerned with a double curved roof tile, and moreparticularly with a tile with a capacity for pluvial and eolian seal.The double curved tile of this present invention provides for animproved locking arrangement between two adjacent tiles of the sameidentical configuration to provide for passageways for the removal ofwater and provide a good shelter for the area to be covered.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The invention is further concerned with an improvement over the tiledisclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,807 invented by theinventor Stefano Gamble and issued to patent on Dec. 9, 2003, thesubject matter of which is incorporated herein.

Further prior art known to Applicant are U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,342, No.5,941,039, and No. 4,930,282 cited in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,807.

This invention in U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,807 is concerned with a novelcurved tile made from a mixture of colored cement. It is a tile that cansimulate a conventional terra cotta tile after being placed onto a roofof a building. The tile of this invention as well as the prior art tilewhen joined to a substantially identical tile forms three curvedportions.

Curved tile roof coverings are conventionally made from terra cotta andusually have a single curved member with two flat portions at each end.The flat portions are placed onto the outer surface of the roof to becovered. The conventional terra cotta tiles when placed next to eachother form two curved portions.

It is known that bent or curved tiles and the tiles used in buildings torealize a covering to prevent the atmospheric agents from entering theunderlying buildings. Bent tiles and tiles, made of materials fromdifferent kinds of clayey mixtures to cement with plasticized mixture,have the aim to protect the building from the sun, the wind and from theatmospheric precipitations: rain, snow and hail.

The sun protection is then actuated under the shading given to thecovering of bent tiles or tiles.

Unfortunately, the prior art in this field is not able to assure thetransversal union of the tile sides in the cited materials so to have atile or a bent tile completely dry in its lower surface, such as theinfiltrations coming to the side parts are not able to guarantee orassure a good seal. The construction faults to the borders of saidcomponents are always causes of water infiltrations under the bent tilesor files.

Another known previous solution is described in the European Patent EP 1323 877, regarding the protection to rain infiltrations, but theseregard only the frontal part of the tile. Moreover, the covering tilesand bent tiles, to avoid raising, must not have borders or lateralholds, such as similar overhangs, can be raising points of the same benttiles or files.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is concerned with the manufacture of a unique tile with alocking or joining feature which can be used in connection with a novelmethod and system to provide a roof covering to simulate a conventionalclay or terra cotta roof. Further, the individual tile of the inventioncan be interconnected with a tile like itself to provide for a threecurved roof portions tile covering the area with two tiles.

First of all, the known performance and difference between a cementcovering surface and a brick-covering and moreover particularly for theexacting work of periodical rotation of the covering tiles with thedrain ones, working does not exist with the tile according to theinvention.

The invention unites a fixed point with a superimposition so to have athermic expansion possibility without interference of material withparts that determine a seal to liquids with a discharge of these outsidethe covering surface.

The invented tile is then not subject to or sensible to the frozenaction such as the possible ice that can be formed inside the joints andtherefore does not damage the stability and the union seal of the tilesand consequently of the covering. Moreover, not having outside bordersthe tile does not give possibility to the wind action transversally tothe tile axis, so as to avoid the raising action which tiles suffer whenprovided with outside lateral borders in overhang.

To these ends, the present invention consists in the provision of adouble curved tile including a body having a central curved portionprovided with first and second lateral parts (2 and 3) each of adifferent shape with a top outline and a bottom outline, the firstlateral part forming a semi-curved upper surface provided with anoverlaying ledge, and the second lateral part forming an overlyingcurved upper surface and an underlying ledge adapted to fit under theoverlying ledge when the body is positioned next to another of one ofthe same type of body with the first lateral part of one the bodyforming a continuous curved portion with said second lateral part of theadjacent body, and the first lateral part and the second lateral part oftwo adjacent bodies being juxtaposed to each other to form an enclosedspace between the two lateral parts for the flow of water between thetwo lateral parts and to prevent seepage or leakage of water from thespace.

A further feature is that the first lateral part includes a firstvertical level planar surface forming a first facing surface, and thesecond lateral part includes a second vertical level planar surfacecomplementary to the first vertical level planar surface and forming aface to face relationship with the first vertical level planar surfacewhen the first lateral part of one tile is juxtaposed to the secondlateral part of another tile.

Another feature is that the first lateral part includes a bottomrecessed portion comprising a front planar surface and a rear horizontalplanar part at a level lower than the bottom of the front planarsurface, and between the front surface and the rear horizontal part is alower level horizontal surface and an angled portion and a surfacesupport base.

Another feature is that the front planar surface and the levelhorizontal surface form an obtuse angle therebetween. The angled portionand the surface support base (8) form an acute angle therebetween.

A further feature is that the second lateral part includes a front levelsurface and at its outermost end a flat surface below the top surface ofthe tile and forming a recessed U-shaped portion between the frontlateral surface and the flat surface. A horizontal surface is alsoprovided extending from the vertical level surface. In addition, asloping planar surface sloping towards the level surface from the flatsurface is also provided.

Another feature includes a sloping planar surface extending from theflat surface, a horizontal surface, and a further level surfaceconnecting the horizontal surface, and said sloping planar surface andforming a channel between the flat horizontal surface and the horizontalsurface.

A further feature is that the second lateral part has a substantiallyU-shaped portion at its outer end and includes a raised upper flatsurface and a vertical level surface at its inner end, and provided witha horizontal surface extending below the top surface of the tile

The invention is also concerned with a drain system for a roof coveringformed from a plurality of double curved tiles, and comprises a doublecurved tile having a semi-circular shaped central portion and a firstextending border in one direction and a second extending border in theopposite direction, the first extending border has a first matingsection and the second extending section has a second mating sectioncomplementary to the first mating section, the first mating section ofone tile mating with the mating section of a next adjacent tile when thetiles are laid out one next to the other, the first mating sectionhaving a configuration which forms a roof portion to overlie a channelor U-shaped section of the second mating section when the tiles are laidout one next to the other, and the top of the first mating section beingjuxtaposed to a side of the U-shaped channel of the second matingsection to form a closure and pathway for water to flow between the twomating sections and away from a structure the roof is to cover.

A further feature of the first mating section is that it has aconfiguration comprising a front facing planar surface extendingtransversely to a top surface of the tile, a lower level or bottomhorizontal surface beneath the top surface and extending from the frontfacing planar surface, and an angled portion to form part of the roofportion having one end extending from the lower level horizontal surfaceand another end connected with a surface support base which cooperateswith the second mating section.

Another feature of the second mating section is that the second matingsection has a configuration comprising a flat surface formed on anupraised portion at the outer end of the second mating section, ahorizontal surface undercut from the top of the curved tile but spacedabove a lower planar part of the tile to receive the first matingsection of an adjacent tile, and a further level portion extending fromthe horizontal surface and joined with a sloping planar portion slopingfrom the flat surface portion to form the channel or U-shaped portion.

The drain system includes the combination of the two mating sections,wherein the first mating section has a configuration comprising a frontfacing planar surface extending transversely to a top surface of thetile, a lower level or bottom horizontal surface beneath the top surfaceand extending from the front facing planar surface, an angled portion toform part of the roof portion having one end extending from the lowerlevel horizontal surface and another end connected with a surfacesupport base which cooperates with the second mating section, a flatsurface formed on an upraised portion at the outer end of the secondmating section, a horizontal surface undercut from the top of the curvedtile but spaced above a lower planar part of the tile to receive thefirst mating section of an adjacent tile, a further level portionextending from the horizontal surface and joined with a sloping planarportion sloping from the flat surface portion to form the channel orU-shaped portion, and the first and second mating sections whenjuxtaposed next to each other formed by two adjacent tiles form apassageway for water to flow therebetween and away from the roofcovering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a single tile according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of two tiles as shown in FIG. 1,interconnected to form a connection between two adjacent tiles of thetype of tile shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of adjacent tiers formed bythe two tiles as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of three tiers of three adjacenttiles shown in FIG. 1 with the three tiles in each tier shown inperspective view looking down onto the top portion of each of the singletile shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 which is aschematic front elevational view of a single curved tile according tothe invention having one full curved portion 1 and two side borders orone semi-curved portion 2 at the right side as viewed in FIG. 1 andanother semi-curved portion 3 at the left side as viewed in FIG. 1.

The side border 2 and side border 3 are complementary to each other andwhen laid out the two side borders together form a single full curvedportion such as full curved portion 2.

Front edge of the right side border 2 is provided with a uniqueconfiguration and is provided with a level or planar front surface 4which joins upper or top surface 5 of right side of semi-curved portion2 to a lower or underside lower level surface 6 forming a lower levelhorizontal surface. This lower level surface 6 cooperates with acorresponding level part or surface forming the other end or left sideof the semi-circular portion 3.

Right side portion 2 at the lower level has lower horizontalsubstantially planar part 9 which continues under central or full curveportion 1 to left semi-circular portion. Between horizontal planar part9 and lower level horizontal surface 6 is an angled portion 7 having asurface forming an obtuse angle with horizontal surface 6, and betweenangled portion 7 and horizontal planar part 9 is another surface 8substantially parallel to surface 6 and forming an acute angle withsurface 7.

Surface 8 is an undersurface of side border 2 and forms a support basefor side border 2 when placed onto a corresponding level surface placedof side border 3, where two adjacent tiles are positioned next to eachother.

Side border 3 cooperates with side border 2, and as best seen in FIG. 2,when two adjacent tiles are to be joined together, semi-curved portion 2has its right edge placed over the left edge of semi-curved portion 3.

Semi-curved portion 3 at its top surface 5 is provided with a levelsurface 10 which mates with level or planar surface 4, see FIG. 2. Levelsurface 10 is placed substantially transversally to upper or top surface5, and substantially vertically, similar to the level surface 4 of rightborder 2 formed by the semi-circular portion.

Surface 11 extends from a substantially vertical level 10 (FIG. 1)towards a further level surface 12 which forms an acute angle with levelsurface 10.

Left semi-circular portion or border 3 is provided with a flat surface14 which cooperates with support base 8. Extending towards the right asviewed in the drawings is a sloping planar portion 13 between flatsurface 14 and further level surface 12.

As best seen in FIG. 4, two sets of adjacent rows with three columns oftiles 1 are placed into juxtaposition with each other. Right side border2 is placed next to left side border 3 and the border 2 overlaps border3.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water passageway between the borders2 and 3 provide a sealing to prevent the water from seeping under thetiles.

Description of Operation of Tiles

The curved tile according to the invention is made of a central curvedportion 1 which is made of conveye mixture or cement with plasticizedmixture, and two borders 2 and 3 with their particular unique shape, sothat the disposition of which directs the tile and gives the mountingdirection. The right lateral border 2 of the tile has a level surface 4placed in the lateral part of the tile. This level surface 4 intersectsthe tile upper surface 5 forming an almost vertical wall. Level surface4 then follows in its outline to lower level surface 6 placed inhorizontal. Lower surface 6 forms the support base for the correspondinglevel part given to the left side border 3.

The outline of the tile side border 2 then goes on from level surface 6to angled level surface 7 to have then another horizontal level surface8. Surface 8 forms a support base on a corresponding level surfaceplaced on the side border 3. The tile outline goes on with lower part 9.Side border 3, which forms support base with a fixed point for sideborder 2 of the next tile, and consists of level surface 10, placedtransversally to upper surface 5 of border 2 and placed like the levelsurface 4 of the side border 2, almost in vertical and adjacent thereto.The outline of side border 3 goes on in continuity with horizontalsurface 11. Surface 11 in its end part is connected with further levelsurface 12 provided with small angulation in comparison with horizontalsurface 11 and to which follows an almost vertical part 13.

Level surface 10, horizontal surface 11, little angulated surface 12 andsurface 13 are placed similar to surface 10 to determine a drain for thewater infiltrations coming to the side fixed points of the tiles. Inparticular, water infiltrated to the level surface 4 of tile side border2 and to level surface 10 of the side border 3 is collected into thedrain formed by the borders of the two surfaces.

The outline of side border 3 then goes on with horizontal level surface14 forming a support base for level surface 8 of side border 2. Thereby,a closing with a double seal is created against water infiltration,formed respectively from the contact of the opposite surfaces, i.e. fromsurfaces 4 and 6 in contact with surfaces 10 and 11 in a seal point andwith surfaces 8 and 14 in the second seal point.

Moreover, the particular shape of the surfaces 7, 12 and 13 creates aninside surface capable of stopping and to discharge the waterinfiltrations coming to the superimposed fixed points. Given to theunion of tile border 2 with border 3 of the next tile.

Atmospheric disturbances are often accompanied by wind. Imperfections inthe tile mounting such as working imperfections of the same tile createsmall cracks to the fixed points where the water with the wind can beover the first seal, i.e. the seal provided by surfaces 4 and 6 incontact with the surfaces 10 and 11. The union of the surfaces 7, 12 and13 creates an inside expansion chamber of the nebulized drops. Theconnected action of the expansion of the higher temperature inside thischamber and the fit angulations of the surfaces 7, 12 and 13 determinethe condensation of the damp infiltration and the collecting into thedrain so as to avoid the penetration of the infiltrations inside thetile. For a greater sealing effect and for a larger stability, thecontact between surface 8 of border 2 and surface 14 of border 3 forms afurther barrier to the infiltrations and a support base more steady tothe mounting of the tiles, facilitating to the operator the ordinarydisposition of the covering with the tiles, thereby avoiding obliquedisposition known as “dispositions out of square.”

The tile according to the present invention, not having outside bordersin overhang, does not determine parts on which wind action can operate,thereby avoiding side raising of the same tile.

The interfaced surfaces to the union, i.e. level surface 4 of sideborder 2 and level surface 10 of side border 3, are placed in such a wayto form an interstice with minimum dimension so to limit the waterpassing under the tile.

The disposition and fixed point of the lateral or border parts 2 and 3of the tile permit then clearance so as to avoid damage resulting fromboth frozen action and thermic expansion such as the support level andhorizontal surfaces 6 and 8 of side border 2 and the support level andhorizontal surfaces 11 and 14 of side border 3, together with the fixedpoints given to the outlines of the two side borders, make possibledilatations or expansions without superimposition of material orinterference with the parts forming the tile.

The tile, according to the invention, provides for a tile with sidewater infiltration seal with inside and angulated collecting drains forthe discharge of eventual infiltrations toward of the covering.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

1. A double curved tile with larger capacity of pluvial and eolian sealincluding: a body having a central curved portion provided with firstand second lateral parts (2 and 3) each of a different shape with a topoutline and a bottom outline; said first lateral part (2) forming asemi-curved upper surface provided with an overlaying ledge, and saidsecond lateral part (3) forming an overlying curved upper surface and anunderlying ledge adapted to fit under said overlying ledge when saidbody is positioned next to another of said body with said first lateralpart (2) of one said body forming a continuous curved portion with saidsecond lateral part (3) of said adjacent body; and said first lateralpart (2) and said second lateral part (3) of two adjacent bodies beingjuxtaposed to each other to form an enclosed space between said twolateral parts for the flow of water between said two lateral parts andto prevent seepage or leakage of water from said space.
 2. The doublecurved tile as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first lateral partincludes a first vertical level planar surface forming a first facingsurface, and said second lateral part includes a second vertical levelplanar surface complementary to said first vertical level planar surfaceand forming a face to face relationship with said first vertical levelplanar surface when said first lateral part of one tile is juxtaposed tosaid second lateral part of another tile.
 3. The double curved tile asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said first lateral part includes a bottomrecessed portion comprising a front planar surface (4) and a rearhorizontal planar part (9) at a level lower than the bottom of the frontplanar surface (4), and between said front surface (4) and said rearhorizontal part (9) is a lower level horizontal surface (6) and anangled portion (7) and a surface support base (8).
 4. The double curvedtile as claimed in claim 3, wherein said front planar surface (4) andsaid level horizontal surface (6) form an obtuse angle therebetween. 5.The double curved tile as claimed in claim 3, wherein said angledportion (7) and said surface support base (8) form an acute angletherebetween.
 6. The double curved tile as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid second lateral part (3) includes a front level surface (10) and atits outermost end a flat surface (14) below the top surface of the tileand forming a recessed U-shaped portion between said front lateralsurface (10) and said flat surface (14).
 7. The tile as claimed in claim6, including a horizontal surface (11) extending from said verticallevel surface (10).
 8. The tile as claimed in claim 6, including asloping planar surface (13) sloping towards said level surface (10) fromsaid flat surface (14).
 9. The tile as claimed in claim 6, including asloping planar surface (13) extending from said flat surface (14), ahorizontal surface (11), and a further level surface (12) connectingsaid horizontal surface (11) and said sloping planar surface (13) andforming a channel between said flat horizontal surface 14 and saidhorizontal surface (11).
 10. The double curved tile as claimed in claim1, wherein said second lateral part (3) has a substantially U-shapedportion at its outer end and includes a raised upper flat surface (14)and a vertical level surface (10) at its inner end, and provided with ahorizontal surface (11) extending below the top surface of the tile 11.A drain system for a roof covering formed from a plurality of doublecurved tiles, comprising a double curved tile having a semi-circularshaped central portion and a first extending border in one direction anda second extending border in the opposite direction; said firstextending border having a first mating section and said second extendingborder having a second mating section complementary to said first matingsection; said first mating section of one tile mating with the matingsection of a next adjacent tile when said tiles are laid out one next tothe other; said first mating section having a configuration which formsa roof portion to overlie a channel or U-shaped section of said secondmating section when said tiles are laid out one next to the other; andthe top of said first mating section being juxtaposed to a side of theU-shaped channel of said second mating section to form a closure andpathway for water to flow between said two mating sections and away froma structure the roof is to cover.
 12. The drain system as claimed inclaim 11, wherein said first mating section has a configurationcomprising: a front facing planar surface extending transversely to atop surface of the tile; a lower level or bottom horizontal surfacebeneath said top surface and extending from said front facing planarsurface; and an angled portion to form part of said roof portion havingone end extending from said lower level horizontal surface and anotherend connected with a surface support base which cooperates with saidsecond mating section.
 13. The drain system as claimed in claim 11,wherein said second mating section has a configuration comprising: aflat surface formed on an upraised portion at the outer end of saidsecond mating section; a horizontal surface undercut from the top of thecurved tile but spaced above a lower planar part of the tile to receivethe first mating section of an adjacent tile; and a further levelportion extending from the horizontal surface and joined with a slopingplanar portion sloping from the flat surface portion to form the channelor U-shaped portion.
 14. The drain system as claimed in claim 11 whereinsaid first mating section has a configuration comprising: a front facingplanar surface extending transversely to a top surface of the tile; alower level or bottom horizontal surface beneath said top surface andextending from said front facing planar surface; an angled portion toform part of said roof portion having one end extending from said lowerlevel horizontal surface and another end connected with a surfacesupport base which cooperates with said second mating section; and aflat surface formed on an upraised portion at the outer end of saidsecond mating section; a horizontal surface undercut from the top of thecurved tile but spaced above a lower planar part of the tile to receivethe first mating section of an adjacent tile; a further level portionextending from the horizontal surface and joined with a sloping planarportion sloping from the flat surface portion to form the channel orU-shaped portion; said first and second mating sections when juxtaposednext to each other formed by two adjacent tiles form a passageway forwater to flow therebetween and away from the roof covering.